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Here is the latest Oregon news from The Associated Press

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – A homeless sex offender says he’s being run out of Portland by attention focused on him by KATU. Gordon Strauss told the station he hadn’t been treated fairly. He was at a downtown police precinct yesterday to take his name off the list of homeless sex offenders living in Portland. Police say Strauss is headed back to Seattle where he has family and friends.

SALEM, Ore. (AP) – The union for Oregon prison officers has hired a lawyer to sue inmates who attack guards. Association of Oregon Correctional Employees President Mike Van Patten told the Statesman Journal it’s an attempt to stop inmates from hitting, spitting or throwing human waste at guards. The first lawsuit was filed Jan. 4 by an officer who says an inmate bit the inside of his cheek until it bled so he could spit HIV-infected blood on the officer.

SALEM, Ore. (AP) – A testing company that approved the concrete used in the condemned Courthouse Square building in Salem has agreed to settle a lawsuit by paying $105,000 to the owners – Marion County and Salem Keizer Transit. The five-story building was closed in 2010 after engineers determined it was unsafe because of weak concrete and a defective design. A $23 million renovation should be completed next year.

SALEM, Ore. (AP) – The federal government is giving Oregon $226 million to finish creating an online marketplace where people can shop for health insurance. Cover Oregon, as the exchange is branded, will enable individuals and small businesses to compare health coverage options and access financial assistance under the federal health care overhaul. Nearly all Americans will be required to have health insurance by next year.

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Athlete of the Week

Richard Huff

The Junior wrestler claimed victory on the mats at 120 pounds last week in dual meets against Reedsport and North Bend, then finished 2nd at the Cascade High School Perry Burlison classic, winning his first three matches by decision before falling in the championship match.

Honorable mention is given to Viking forward Jakob Hickson who led scoring with 15 points in the Vikings’ season opening victory over the Creswell Bulldogs.

Viking Sports Talk

Coast Radio’s Our Town

The traditional methods employed by local governments to attract and develop new businesses are changing. One method being employed is by making the community as attractive and “livable” as possible says Florence’s Economic Development Coordinator. Kelli Weese says using public art can make the community stand out as well as make it more attractive to someone looking to relocate and bring new jobs with them.

Weese, along with the chair of the city’s Public Art Committee, Harlen Springer, will be on the August edition of Coast Radio’s Our Town to talk about how they’re hoping to create several pockets of public art throughout the community. City Councilor Joshua Greene will also be on the panel.

This month’s Our Town will also feature several other conversations, including two related to athletics at Siuslaw High School. Chris Johnson, a long time Cross Country and Track & Field coach at Siuslaw was recently named the athletic director. He’ll talk about the upcoming induction ceremony for the Siuslaw High School Athletic Hall of Fame. In a separate segment, newly appointed head football coach, Jamin Pool will talk about the pressures of taking over a highly successful program that has only had two other coaches over the past 50 years. Pool, who describes himself as a football fanatic, says he feels confident that he’ll be able to live up to expectiations.

Meg Spencer is one of 8 “Siuslaw Vision Keepers”, a group that has been working with several different community groups over the past 18 months to develop a common vision for what our region could look like over the next ten years. She and the others have become the core growth that grew out of the Siuslaw Pathways project, aimed at identifying several key projects and goals for the community. She’ll talk about some of those goals, including increasing access to local transportation and health care; creating community centers; and the possible creation of a regional parks and recreation department.

The other segment in Our Town this week will feature Lane Community College Florence Center director Russ Pierson and LCC’s director of financial aid Helen Faith. They’ll talk about the “Oregon Promise”, recent legislative efforts to increase low or no cost college for high school graduates in Oregon. Pierson says it’s a complicated process and it takes a lot of work and study to make it work. He and Faith will also talk about other financial options for incoming students.

It’s all sponsored by Andy Baber of Edward Jones Investments; Holloway and Associates CPA’s; the Archives Photo Restoration Specialists, Lane Community College in Florence, Siuslaw Public Library and PeaceHealth Peace Harbor Medical Center. It airs on KCST, FM 106.9, the first Wednesday of each month between 4:00 and 6:00 PM; then again the next morning on KCFM, AM1250-FM 104.1 from 10:00 AM to noon.